Explained: How obesity can give you kidney stones

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New Delhi: Kidney stones are hard deposits formed in the kidney and can cause severe pain while passing through the urinary tract. While multiple causes and factors contribute to the formation of kidney stones, one of the surprising causes of kidney stones is obesity. Let’s look at how obesity is related to kidney stones and some effective tips to keep body weight in check. Dr. Sanjay Garg, Consultant of Urology and Andrology at Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad, in an interaction with News9Live, explained this link.

How Does Obesity Increase the Risk of Kidney Stones?

1. Dehydration: obese people are more prone to dehydration, which can cause concentrated urine. Such concentrated urine is one major cause of kidney stones.
2. High Sodium Intake: People who suffer from obesity often indulge in high-sodium foods. When the sodium levels in a person‘s body increase, that can boost the calcium levels in the urine, creating kidney stones.
3. Metabolic Changes: One of the major side effects that obesity creates is metabolic problems such as insulin resistance. Such issues can make a person’s urine more acidic and create kidney stones.
4. Oxalate Absorption: The body of an obese person typically absorbs more oxalate from food. This oxalate combines with calcium and forms calcium oxalate stones, which are a very common type of kidney stone.
5. Other Health Conditions: some other health conditions that are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, can also result in the formation of kidney stones.

Tips to Maintain a Healthy Weight and Prevent Kidney Stones

1. Reduce Sodium: To maintain a healthy body weight, it is important to limit the intake of sodium to less than 2300 mg per day. Additionally, avoiding processed and packaged foods will also help in reducing sodium intake, as such foods contain high levels of sodium.
2. Stay Hydrated: One must drink a sufficient amount of water every day. The colour of the urine of a properly hydrated person should be clear or pale yellow.
3. Choose Plant-Based Proteins: Replacing animal proteins with plant-based options like lentils, beans, and chickpeas can also help to keep body weight in check.
4. Add Cranberries and Fish Oil: One can include cranberries and fish oil in their diet to lower the levels of harmful substances in urine.
5. Limit Oxalate-Rich Foods: One can reduce the intake of foods that are high in oxalate, such as spinach, nuts, chocolate, and tea.
6. Consult a doctor: A medical expert can guide you on the type of diet that helps you lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It is important to understand how obesity is connected to kidney stones and make the correct changes in one’s lifestyle to deal with kidney stones and obesity. One can lower the risk of forming kidney stones and improve overall health with the help of healthier lifestyle habits.

 It is important to understand how obesity is connected to kidney stones and make the correct changes in one’s lifestyle to deal with kidney stones and obesity. One can lower the risk of forming kidney stones and improve overall health with the help of healthier lifestyle habits.  Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare